Fire extinguisher



Aug. 18., `1942. I I A. sLosKo 2,293,366

FIRE EXTINGULSHER "Filed March 17, 1941 atente-ci 18, 1.942

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIc FIRE EXTINGUISHER Abraham Solosko, Chicago, Ill. Application March 17, 1941, SerialNo. 383,759

Y 3V Claims. This invention relates to fire extinguishers of the type comprising containers adapted to hold a fire extinguisher liquid and provided with outlet openings for the escape of the liquid, such openings being normally closed by means comprising a heat softening material by which effective closure of the container is maintained until the wall of the container has been subjected to a temperatureslightly above the highest temperature normally reached. The container is preferably mounted in such position that the liquid and gas escaping through the openings are scattered effectively for quickly smothering any re at the point sought to be protected, such result being effected automatically. The `container is preferably arranged, however, for manual manipulation independently of its automatic operation when desired, as is well understood in connection with this type of device.

It is the object of the invention to improve the L form and arrangement of the parts of a device of this type whereby effective automatic action may be assured. For attaining this end, I have provided closure means for the several outlet openings comprising members in the form of vthe full length of the container and closed by means comprising a heat softening material so that when the container is heated up above the normal limit the slots are opened at all points along the container for the escape of the fire extinguisher liquid.

1t is another object of this invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which the several objects have been attained are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. l isa bottom face View of the preferred form of my invention'in position on a supporting panel; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional View taken substantially at the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale taken substantially at the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom face view of a modified form of container;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a fragmentary porti-on of the wall of a container provided with a modified form of closure means.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, I0 indicates a In an alternative arrangepanel made of metal or plastic secured in any suitable manner upon a wall II for supporting a pair of spring brackets I2 in spaced relation on its bottom face. Normally the wall II would be a ceiling or other horizontally extending wall. Each of the brackets I2 comprises two spaced arms between which a container I3 is frictionally secured, the container I3 in the arrangement shown being in the form of a cylindrical pipe made of iron or copper or other suitable non-fusible metal. The ends of the pipe vI3 are preferably closed by means of caps I4 which may be of the same type of metal as that making up the pipe itself. At intervals along thecontainer I3 a series of openings I5 are provided, in each of which openings a closure plate It is removably secured, I the closure plate I6 being preferably formed of the same metal as that from which the pipe is formed. As is clearly shown in the drawing, each of the plates I6 has a loose fit in the opening I5 in which it is positioned, each of the plates being held in position so as to seal the opening by means of a suitable quantity of solder or other heat softening material il. In the arrangement illustrated, three rows of openings I5 are provided, with the openings spaced lengthwise of the pipe, and with the intermediate row facing downwardly,` the other rows being located at about 45 degrees angularly from the intermediate row. It will be noted from the short description of the figures that Fig. 1 is a bottom face View, which means that the intermediate row of openings I5 face directly downward. If the bracket is mounted on a vertical wall then of course the container I3 would have to be rotated in the bracket arms until the openings are in the desired position.

At its side face, the container I3 is provided with an opening comprising afshort sleeve portion I8 extending outwardly therefrom so as to be readily closed by a cap I9 secured in position by means of solder. With the openings I5 effectively closed by plates I6, the container I3 is filled with a supply of carbon tetrachloride or other suitable fire extinguisher liquid, and the cap I9 is then sealed in position upon the neck I8. With the container filled with iire extinguisher liquid and placed in position in the brackets I2 with the openings I5 facing downwardly, the device is effective for affording protection against fire, as is well understood in connection with devices of this type. When a fire develops adjacent to the container I3 so as to raise the temperature of the solder I1 above the normal limit, the solder softens suiciently for permitting the plates I6 to move by gravity out of their closure position so as to permit the liquid to escape from the container.

It is desirable also that the container I3-be available for use independently of its automatic operation. For making this possible, the end cap I 4 at the left in Fig. 1 is provided with an opening 2i) therein in which a closure member 2| is secured by means of a supply of heat softening material as indicated at 22, the closure member 2l being in the form of a shell and formed preferably of glass with the major portion of the member extending outwardly beyond the end of the container. By reason of this arrangement, when the container has been removed from the brackets i2 the closure member 2l can be broken by a blow at one side so as to afford an outlet for feeding the liquid from the container by a proper manipulation cf the container by hand.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the construction is similar to that above described except that a container 23 in the form of a pipe is employed in lieu of the container I3, such container being provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 24 in its bottom face which slots are normally closed by means of suitable quantities of solder indicated by the numeral 25. By the use of this arrangement, the carbon tetrachloride or other re extinguisher liquid is enabled to escape at all points along the container when the heat softening solder is brought to an abnormally high temperature as above explained in connection with the arrangement of Fig. 1. The construction of Fig. 4 is thus highly effective as a protection against fire.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the construction is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the closure means for the openings is slightly different. In Fig. 5, a container 25 is illustrated having an opening 21 through a portion of its wall over which a plate 28 is secured by means of a quantity of solder 29 adapted normally to hold the plate 28 in position but adapted to permit the plate 28 to move downwardly by gravity when the solder has become softened by heat.

In each of the several constructions, the container is preferably formed of iron or brass or some other non-fusible metal, as are also the closure plates inserted in or over the openings through the wall of the container. In each instance, the means for holding the plates in position is formed of fusible metal or other heat softening material.

By the employment of the arrangement as shown and described, a highly effective fire protection means is afforded. The construction is such that the parts can be produced and assembled very readily and cheaply, and the parts can be employed over and over again if desired.

My invention contemplates, among other arrangements, the utilization of frame bars, or the like, made into the form of containers for holding a supply of fire extinguisher liquid to be available automatically when a fire occurs. For example, a curtain rod or a drape arm may be made hollow and provided with closure means adapted automatically to open for the escape of fire extinguisher liquid. Other forms of container may be readily worked out, by which a supply of liquid may be held in readiness and in which the fire protection feature is not readily noticeable without close inspection.

While I prefer to employ the form and arrangement4 of parts as shown and as above described,

Yit is to be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the form and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a re extinguisher, the combination of a container in the form of an elongated tube closed at its ends and having an opening at one end portion and three rows of outlet openings through its side wall portion, with the outlet openings spaced from each other longitudinally of the tube and with the rows spaced about 45 degrees apart ciroumierentially of the tube, means for closing said first-named opening in the form of a frangible closure member extending outwardly from the opening so as readily to be broken by a blow thereon, and means for hermetically sealing said tube so as to hold a supply of nre extinguisher liquid and comprising heat softening means in said outlet openings adapted when the tube reaches a predetermined temperature above the normal limit to permit the liquid to escape from the container.

2. In a re extinguisher means, the combination of a container in the form of an elongated tube closed at its ends and having an opening at one end portion and three rows of outlet openings through its side wall portion, with the outlet openings spaced from each other longitudinally of the tube and with the rows spaced about 45 degrees apart circumferentially of the tube, means for closing said first-named opening in the form of a frangible closure member extending outwardly from the opening so as readily to be broken by a blow thereon, means for hermetically sealing said tube so as to hold a supply of fire extinguisher liquid and comprising heat softening means in said outlet openings adapted when the tube reaches a predetermined temperature above the normal limit to permit the liquid to escape from the container, and bracket means adapted normally to hold said container frictionally in horizontal position with said outlet openings facing downwardly and adapted to yield for permitting easy removal of the container therefrom.

3. In a fire extinguisher means, the combination of a container in the form of an elongated tube closed at its ends and having a plurality of openings through its wall portion, comprising a filling opening, an opening at one end portion of the container, and three rows of outlet` openings spaced from each other longitudinally of the tube with the rows spaced about 45 degrees apart circumferentially of the tube, means for closing said filling opening comprising a cap and heat softening means for sealing the cap over the lling opening, means for closing the opening at the end portion of the container comprising a frangible closure member extending outwardly from the opening so as readily to be broken by a blow thereon, means for hermetically sealing said tube so as to hold a supply of re extinguisher liquid and comprising heat softening means in said outlet openings adapted when the tube reaches a predetermined temperature above the normal limit to permit the'liquid to escape from the container, and bracket means adapted 'normally to hold said container frictionally in horizontal position with said outlet openings facing downwardly and adapted to yield for permitting easy removal of the container therefrom.

ABRAHAM 'soLosKo' 

